Portable apparatuses and methods for the production of microfibers and nanofibers

Abstract

Described herein are apparatuses and methods of creating fibers, such as microfibers and nanofibers. The methods discussed herein employ centrifugal forces to transform material into fibers. Apparatuses that may be used to create fibers are also described.

1 . A hand held/portable device for the production of microfibers and/or nanofibers comprising:
 one or more motors,   a fan coupled to at least one of the one or more motors;   a spinneret comprising a body and one or more openings, the spinneret being coupled to at least one of the one or more motors, wherein the fan and spinneret are, during use, rotated substantially simultaneously;   wherein, during use, rotation of the spinneret causes material placed in the body of the spinneret to be ejected through one or more of the openings to produce fibers, and   wherein the fan is positioned with respect to the spinneret such that the fibers produced by the spinneret are blow away from the spinneret by the gas flow produced by the rotating fan.   
     
     
         2 . The device of claim  0 , further comprising a material reservoir coupled to the body of the spinneret, wherein material disposed in the material reservoir is transferred to the spinneret body during use. 
     
     
         3 . The device of claim  0 , wherein the motor, fan and spinneret are placed in a molded housing. 
     
     
         4 . The device of claim  0 , wherein the molded housing comprises a handle. 
     
     
         5 . The device of claim  0 , wherein the molded housing comprises a tapered outlet, wherein fibers produced by the spinneret are blow away from the spinneret into the tapered outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The device of claim  0 , wherein the fan, the motor, and the spinneret are aligned along an axial axis of the molded housing. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fan and spinneret are positioned on opposing sides of the one or more motors. 
     
     
         8 . The device of claim  0 , comprising a first motor coupled to the fan and a second motor coupled to the spinneret. 
     
     
         9 . The device of claim  0 , wherein the first motor rotates the fan at a different speed than the second motor rotates the spinneret during use. 
     
     
         10 . The device of claim  0 , wherein the spinneret comprises a plurality of outlet elements coupled to the body, wherein one or more openings are formed in the outlet elements, extending through the outlet elements to the , wherein during use, material in the body passes through the openings formed in the outlet elements. 
     
     
         11 . The device of claim  0 , wherein the spinneret further comprises one or more pellets positioned in the one or more openings, wherein the pellets inhibit the ejection of material from the one or more outlet elements unless the spinneret is rotating. 
     
     
         12 . The device of claim  0 , further comprising a filter positioned downstream from the fan. 
     
     
         13 . The device of claim  0 , wherein at least one motor is capable of rotating the spinneret at speeds of greater than about 1000 rpm. 
     
     
         14 . The device of claim  0 , wherein the spinneret is removably coupled to at least one motor through a coupling member. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers produced by the spinneret comprise microfibers. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers produced by the spinneret comprise nanofibers. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one battery coupled to the one or more motors. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a channeling chamber coupled to the housing, wherein the channeling chamber directs the fibers exiting the fiber producing device during use. 
     
     
         19 . The device of claim  0 , wherein the channeling chamber is coupled to the housing by a hinge, wherein the hinge is configured to allow the channeling chamber to be moved away from the housing during use. 
     
     
         20 . A method of producing microfibers and/or nanofibers, comprising:
 placing material in a a spinneret of a hand held/portable device, wherein the device comprises:
 one or more motors, 
 a fan coupled to at least one of the one or more motors; 
 a spinneret comprising a body and one or more openings, the spinneret being coupled to at least one of the one or more motors, wherein the fan and spinneret are, during use, rotated substantially simultaneously; 
 wherein, during use, rotation of the spinneret causes material placed in the body of the spinneret to be ejected through one or more of the openings to produce fibers, and 
 wherein the fan is positioned with respect to the spinneret such that the fibers produced by the spinneret are blow away from the spinneret by the gas flow produced by the rotating fan. 
   rotating the spinneret at a speed of at least about 1000 rpm, and, substantially simultaneously rotating the fan, wherein rotation of the spinneret causes material in the body to be ejected through one or more openings to produce fibers; and wherein the fibers produced by the spinneret are blow away from the spinneret by the gas flow produced by the rotating fan.   
     
     
         21 - 29 . (canceled)